I Rely on CP Marketing to Stay Alive [Showbiz]

Shu Yao is terminally ill, and her favorite pastime is shipping couples. At first she only shipped characters, but then the actors started pushing their pairing so hard: synchronized posts, matching outfits, secret accounts, messages sent across the internet, industry insiders spilling tea... Ah, this is such a treat!

But every ship sank, and she never got to enjoy even a little fan-service. When a pair who had been promoting their partnership for five years, after six years in the business, also fell apart in a mess after the man was exposed as secretly married, she lay in her hospital bed, consciousness fading, and thought, "I'm about to die. What's the harm in letting me believe a little longer?"

A loud crash rang through the sky, and the Couple-Promotion System made its dazzling debut.

*

Her first partner used to be an unknown newcomer, but now his comment section is buzzing.

Their CP fans ride the popularity of the currently airing drama to grab the top comments, posting a wedding photo of him and Shu Yao with the caption: "Which of them fell first? It was me."

Her partner replies with dignified restraint: [I have to disagree with that.]

Her second partner was professionally trained and had a little fame. At last, he became a huge star.

His side profile appears in the shot of Shu Yao's Mid-Autumn Festival vlog, and the clip tops the trending searches.

Haters: "The top-tier star is so generous, boosting Sister Yao's status like that."

Her partner calmly answers an interview: [Sorry, my brother-in-law mode kicked in.]

Her third drama is a xianxia, and the male lead is afraid of being leeched off by a supporting actress.

Shu Yao understands. No problem. As long as the fans get a positive response, she doesn't mind being replaced. She's not picky. But then a non-canon co-star joins the production with an investor's backing, and CP fans inside and outside the drama shout, "Leopard loves Cat so much and doesn't even know it!!!" The male lead can't even get a seat at the table.

Shu Yao has learned her lessons well. She always keeps things proper and cooperates whenever they promote the pairing, just waiting for it to naturally run its course. Until the entertainment industry's year-end gala, when her partners all crowd around her in front of the livestream cameras, while their CP fans fight tooth and nail.

...There's too much water to carry.

#YouSaidWeWereJustPromotingThePairingSoDontGetTooIntoCharacter

Theme: Promote the pairing openly, then part ways with dignity